Convertible automobile-body.



PATENTED SEPT. 1 .190 3.

E. T. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY- APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27,1907.

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No. 897,663. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

E. T. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1907.

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T. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 27, 1907.

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No. 897,663- PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190a. BIT. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 1907.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1 1908. E. T. 3031mm. GGNVERTIBLE AUTGMOBILE B0171 APPLIQATIOE FILED SEPT. 27,1907.

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PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1908 E. T. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT,27,1907.

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JYiZWfi/ZZE)? 897,663. PAi-JENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

E. T. ROBINSON. OQNVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27,1907.

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PATENTEDWSBP'B. 1., 1908.

E. T. ROBINSON. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.2'7,1907. s SHEETSSHBBT Q.

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- V r v 'uevw Z OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ST. LOUIS OAR COMPANY, OF

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION.

EDWARD T. ROBINSON,

CONVERTIBLE .AUTOIKOBILE-BODY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I," Enwiinn T. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States of Axnerica, residing'at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Autonrobilediorlies, of which the following is a lull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ol" this specification. I

My inventiini. relates to a new and usetul improvementin. convertible automobile bodies and has for its object to produce what is known as a limousine, dcini-liniousine or a co n pletelyopen bodywith verylittle trouble, and in. a very short spaceo'l time, by the occupant oil the. vehicle.

A further object of my invention is to so ('OJIStI'HCt a body having the advantages just mentioned, that it will he sulliciently strong to withstaiul the severe usage to which said vehicles are sometimes subjected, and will be nbiscless, or the parts will not rattle when adjusted to any oil its various forms.

Figure l is a side elevation of the body adjusted to l'orni a limousine. Fig. II is a side elevation of the body adjusted to forn a lenii-liinousine. Fig. III is a side elevation of the body adjusted to T011111 a completely open vehicle. Fig. IV is a perspective view of the body partly illustrating the manner of converting the vehicle :l'roni one shape to another. Fig. V is a vertical longitudinal section through the. body. Fig. V1 is a vertical transverse section through the body. Fig. VII is a horizontal section of the body looking toward the top. Fig. VIII is an enlarged detail section of a portion of the vehicle, one of the hinged posts, and a portion of the sashes employed in carrying out my invention. Fig. IX an enlarged vertical trans verse section taken on line IX-IX, Fig. VIII. Fig. X. is an inverted plan viewof one end of one. of the hingedsposts employed in carrying out my invention. Fig. Xl is a top or plan. view of one oi the stationary posts with which the hinged post, illustrated in Fig. I, cooperates.

1 designates the lower portion of the body proper which is provided in its sides near its front with outwardly hinged doors'il, and extending upwardly from this body I are front and rear stationary corner posts 2;, b

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1907.

and 4, 4', respectively, which corner posts sop- Patented Sept. 1, loos,

Serial No. 394,828.

port the top 5 of the vehicle. provided with a front, rear and pair of side pockets 6, 7 and 8 respectively and are designed to receive drop sashes to be hereiri after described. Each. side of the body 1 is provided with intermediate side posts 9 and 10 hinged to the top 5 at 11 and between these posts are located upper and lower sashes l2 and 13, the former being hinged to the top 5 at 14 and the latter having slidable contact therewith in such manner that upon proper nianipulatigm thereof, it can be low cred into its respective pocket 8.

Located between each oi the rear stationary corner posts 4 and the l'iinged side posts 9 are arranged upper and lower sashes 15 and 16, the former being hinged to the top 5, in similar manner as is the sash 12,and the latter having slidable contact with the said posts 4 and 9, in like. manner as is the sash 13, whereby, upon the proper manipulation 7.5

of said sash 16, it can be lowered into a pocket formed in the side of the body 1.

1S designates a slidable sash which operates between each of the stationary front corner posts 3 and each of the hinged'side end of the vehicle body is provided with upper and lower sashes 2t) and 21 operating between the stationary "front corner posts I), the former sash being hinged at 22 to the top 5 while the latter is slidable and is designed to be received when lowered b r the ocket 6 formed in. the body 1.

23 designates a plurality of spring actuated catches secured to the under taco oi the top I) ot the. vehicle body, there being one or more ot' these spring actuated catches for cooperation with each ol the hinged sashes I2, 15 and 24), their function being to retain said sashes in an elevated or open position when the, same 24 designates a plurality of spring actu ated catches, similar in construction to the catches secured to the under face of the top 5 oi the vehicle body for cooperation The body 1. is 55 The rear end oil the vehicle body 85.

are so adjusted.

with the free ends of the hinged side osts 9 and 10, and are designed to retain sai posts in a raised. position when said. posts are so adjusted. 'lhese hinged posts 9 and 10 be ing practically of the same construction, I will confine the following description to but one of them, and call particular attention to Figs. VIII to X inclusive of the drawings.

The hinge post 10 is provided with a hinge member 25 secured thereto, which cocperates with a hinge member 26 mounted upon a longitudinal side top rail 27 of the vehicle body. The hinge member 26 is provided with a projection or dowel 28 which is designed to be received by a recess 29 formed in a late 30 secured to the top of the post 10 W16Il the 0st is in a vertical position.

The lower or tree end of the hinged post 10 is provided with. a, preferably metallic, plate 31 having a projection or dowel 32, which is designed to be received by a recess formed in a metallic body 34 located directly beneath the post 10,.said dowel being retained in said recess by a spring actuated catch 35 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. IX of the drawin s. These dowels 28 and 32 manifestly materially brace the post 10 and prevent the same'from having independent movement relative to its supports, thus insuring a ainst rattling, at the same time relieve the hinge proper of unnecessary strain and maintain the post 10 in such true alinement that the sashes which cooperate therewith will have free movement. Each of the hinged sashes is rovided upon its free edge with a plate 36. aving a suitable opening or slot formed therein, and

, each slidable sash, with the exceptionof the.

door sashes and .the rear sash, is provided with a spring actiiated'catch 37 located. upon its top rail, vrllihlrusg dhsigned to cooperate with the plate 36' f orthe purpose of holding said hinged sashes tightly against said slidablesashes, see Fig. V

38 designates screw buttons mounted upon all the'upright posts, both stationary and hinged, and are designed to be adjusted in.

such manner that they will cooperate with the stiles of the slidable windows to hold the same tightly in place against their respective osts. p I have caused the plates 36 of the hinged sashes and the s ring catches secured to the top 5 of the vehic e to be in vertical alinement with each other and have located the latter in suchposition that, when the hinged sashes are raised to their uppermost 1positions, said plates 36,.Will cooperate Wit said spring catches, whereby it will be seen that theplates 36 perform the dual function of retain- 111g said hinged sashes in either their open or closed positions.

39 designates hinged covers for the window pockets which also serve for supports for the slidable sashes when the latter are in a raised sevgcse position, said covers being preferably provided with. spring catches 40 for holding said covers in their closed positions.

When it is desired to convert the vehicle from, say a completely closed condition to a com aratively open condition, I first release the ringed sashes by properly mani ulating the spring catches 37, and swinging t 1e same upwardly until they engage and become retained by the spring catches. .I then'unclamp or partly withdraw the screw buttons 38, raise the slidable sashes a sullicient distance to permit the pocket covers 39 to be swung out of the downward path'of movement of the slidable sashes, then lower said slidable sashes into their respective pockets and then restore the pocket cover to. their original position. I then release the free ends of the posts 9 and 10, by properly manipulating their locks or spring catches, and

swing them inwardly and upwardly until they engage and become retained by the spring catches secured to the top 5 and the produce a more pleasing effect upon the eye and with this end in view I have formed a covering for the parts in, the shape of what I might term a false ceiling; This false ceiling are movable, preferably transversely of the vehicle, in land aresupported by suitable channels 42 and 43, said panelsbeing of equal lengths and gt a thickness which Wlll permitone to rest and slide directly above the other within their supporting and guiding channels 42 and 43, whereby both panels can he slid to one, side of the vehicle, while the 0 posite side of the samejis being converte then both anels can be moved to the opposite side oi the vehicle whilethe other side is being converted and then one panel only can beslid to cover the entire top. In order to revent rattling and dislodgment, from their esired laces, of the panels, I have arranged a plura ity of leaf springs 4.4 on the top 5 which are designed to exert pressure upon the panels and produce the desired, effect. In order to further insure these. anels against accidental displacement I employ a spring actuated roller 45 mounted upon the top 5 of the vehicle.

I claim 1. A convertible automobile body consist is. composed ot-two slidable' panels 41 which r windowsashes for eooperatim with said stationary corner posts and said hinged posts, substantially as set forth.

2. A convertible autoinobile body consisting of a body proper, stationary eorner posts extending upwardly therefrom, a top so ported by said eorner posts, hinged si( 0 posts, hinged window sashes, said hinged posts and said hinged window sashes being susceptible of being moved in juxtaposition to said top, and means for retaining said hinged posts and said hinged sashes in either their elevated or lowered position, substantially as set forth.

3. A convertible,automobile body consisting of a body proper, stationary eorner posts, a top, side posts hinged to said top, slidable window sashes, means -for retaining said.

i hinged side posts in either their raised or lowered position, and mains 'l'or retaining said. window sashes in either their raised or lowered position; said body proper being provided with poeliets lor the rereption ol" said. plidable window sashes substantially as set orth.

4. A eoi'ivertible automobile body consisting of a body proper, stationary corner posts, a top, hinged side posts hinged window sashes; said hinged posts and hinged window sashes being suseeptible of being raised in juxtaposition to said top, means l'or retaining said hinged elements in their raised or lowered positions,'and a eovering or false eeiling for the purpose. speeilied, substantiall as set i'orth.

5. A convertibleautomobile body having window sash poekets l'ormedin its sides and end walls, stationary eorner posts extending upwardly l'ront said body, atop sup )orted by said eorner posts; said posts being liinged to said top, a dowel rarried by each of said hinged posts 'l'or eoi'iperation with plates su )orted by said body )roper, means for loellmg said posts in tlieir lowered position, hinged and slidable sashes loeated between said hinged posts and between said. hinged and stationary eorner posts; said hinged sashes being supported in the top properoi" the vehicle and the slidable sashes being eaeh h rated in vertical alinement WltlLStlitl pot-liets of the body proper, and means tor looking said hinged sashes in either their raised or lowered positions, substantially as set forth.

6. A eonvertible automobile body having a window sash pocket, stationary corner posts, a hinged side ost, and a hinged window saslrand a slidalde window sash loeated between one of said corner posts and said hinged post and arranged direetly above the window sash poeket ol' the body, substantiallyas set forth.

7. A eonvertible automobile body having a window sash oel et, stationary eorner posts, a hinged sidepost, a hinged window sash and a slidable window sash located between one of said corner posts and said hinged post and arranged directly above the window sash pocket of the body, means carried by the top of the vehicle for supporting the said hinged sash in its raised. position, and means carried by said. slidable sash for loeking said hinged window sash in its lowered position, substantially as set forth. 7

8. A eonvertible automobile body consisting of a body proper having window sash pockets formed in its side and end walls, a hinged door loeated in the side wall of the body" proper and having a window sash pocket arranged therein, stationary eorner posts supported by said body proper, a top supported by said eorner posts, hinged side posts supported by said top, means for looking said hinged side posts in either their elevated or lowered position, hinged window sashes loeated between the eorner postsand thehinged side posts and between the hinged side posts, slidable window sashes eoiiperating with said posts designed to be reeeived by the sash pockets in the body proper, and a slidable window sash whieh (.aiopeiates between one stationary eorner post and'one hinged post whieh is suseeptible. of being lowered into the poeket formed. in thehinged door, substantially as set forth.

t). A convertible automol rile body consisting of a body proper, station'ary corner posts, a top, hinged side post's, hinged window sashes, said hinged posts and said hinged window sashes being suseeplible of being raised in juxtaposition to said top. means ea'rried by said top l'or retaining said hinged posts and sashes in their elevated positions, a slidableeeiling for housing in-said means and said. hinged elements when the latter are in theii elevated positions, and means'l'or insuring said slidable eeiling against at-eii-lental displacement and against rattling, substantially as set forth.

it). In an automobile body, the ombiiiation with a body proper, of stationary eorner posts, a top, hinged side posts and window sashes whieh are movable inwardly and up wardly under said top, means for retaining said hinged elements in their elevated positions, channels supported by the top, and stationary posts of the vehiele, and a pair of panels slidably mounted in said rhannels for forming a false eeiling ol' the vehiele l'or the purpose speeilied.

H. In an autonfi'ibile body, the eoptbitiation with albody-pi oper, of stationary eorner posts, a top, hinged side posts and window, sashes which are movable inwardly and upwardly under said top, means for retaining said hinged. elements in their elevated positioi s. ehannels supported by the top and sta tioii'ttry posts of the vehiele, a pair ol' panels slidably mounted in said ehannels l'or l'orming al'alse eeiling ol' the vehicle, and resilient means for eot'iperating with said panels to hold the'same in any desired position, substantially set forth.

12. in an automobile body, the coinbination with a body proper, of stationary corner posts, a top, hinged side posts and window sashes which are movable inwardly and upwardly under said top, means for retaining said hinged elements in their elevated positions, channels supported by the top and stationary postso'l the vehicle, a pair of slid-able panels mounted in said channels for forming a false ceiling, which panels are so constructed and arranged that one panel can occopy a position directly above its companion and that either or both panels can be slid independently or collectively for the purpose specified.

13. In an automobile body, the combination with a body proper, of stationary corner posts,a top, hinged side posts and window sashes which are movable inwardly and up Wardly under said top, means for retaining said hinged elements in their elevated positions, channels supported by the top and sta tionary posts of the vehicle, a pair of slidable panels mounted in said channels for forming a false ceiling, which panels are so constructed and arranged that one panel can 00- cupy a position directly above its companion and that either or both panels can be slid independently or collectively and resilient means for cooperating with said panels to hold the same in any desired position, substantially as set forth.

E. T. ROBINSON. y In presence of Airmen DIEKMANN, HELEN J. MURPHY. 

